Reliance-owned Karkinos Healthcare Crosses One Lakh HPV DNA Tests in Fight Against Cervical Cancer
Karkinos Healthcare, a 100% step-down subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, has achieved a significant milestone by completing HPV DNA screening for over one lakh women across India. This achievement highlights the expansion of access to high-quality cervical cancer screening and follow-up care throughout the country.The accomplishment addresses two critical aspects of cervical cancer prevention: limited accessibility to screening and the common issue of patients being lost during the follow-up process after receiving a positive test result. Karkinos Healthcare’s model tackles both challenges using World Health Organization (WHO) recommended HPV DNA testing alongside a digitally enabled continuum of care. This comprehensive approach integrates public awareness, screening, tracking, triage, navigation, and necessary follow-up.
Speaking on the significance of this milestone, Dr Neerja Bhatla, Consultant at Karkinos Healthcare, stated that while evidence confirms HPV DNA testing as the most reliable primary screen for cervical cancer, she emphasized that scale is only half the battle. "What matters now is not testing at scale alone but also ensuring that every woman who tests positive is carried through to diagnosis and treatment across the care continuum," she noted, adding that a program demonstrating this linkage at volume beyond major cities is crucial for India's cervical cancer elimination effort.
Similarly, Dr Goura Kishore Rath, Senior Oncology Advisor at Karkinos Healthcare, observed that while understanding of cervical cancer is established in the country, "the obstacle has been reach." He stressed that making a genuine public health gain requires bringing high-quality tests to small towns and districts and ensuring the system successfully completes the process rather than merely providing a result.
Ms Sripriya Rao, Chief Growth Officer for Women Wellness at Karkinos Healthcare, provided perspective on the methodology, stating that each of the one lakh tests represents a woman who was met at her location. She defined the work's measure not by the number of women reached, but by "how many we did not lose along the way," performed with dignity and sustainability.
Karkinos dedicated this milestone to late Dr R. Sankaranarayanan, who established the foundation for the work through his conviction in early detection. Backed by Reliance's support, Karkinos expressed confidence in carrying this journey forward toward one million tests, aiming eventually for one hundred million responsibly and sustainably.
The achievement was realized through multiple implementation models across diverse geographies. These methods included public-health programmes, public-private partnerships, CSR supported initiatives, nurse assisted and self sampling programmes, district level screening efforts, and focused outreach programs targeting underserved and high-risk communities. The outcome demonstrates that high quality HPV DNA testing can be delivered at scale in India through technology driven care pathways.
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About Karkinos Healthcare:
Karkinos Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., a step down subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, is described as a technology led, purpose driven oncology platform. Utilizing a hub and spoke model, Karkinos has pioneered the Distributed Cancer Care Model to address cancer prevention, early detection, diagnostics, care delivery, and research across the patient care continuum. Through advanced molecular diagnostic labs and collaborations with leading institutions in India and abroad, Karkinos aims to provide end-to-end cancer solutions without depriving any person of care due to lack of access or affordability.
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